Good, inexpensive "starter flash"

I was looking around online at all the different flashes there are.. but I don't really know what all of them do (i'm a flash idiot). I just need something pretty basic for my photos. I didn't know what would be considered a good inexpensive "starter flash". I'm still getting the hang of my SLR but wanted to experiment with some lighting, and thought an external flash could fit into my budget. Any ideas?

vivitar/cactus 285HVs are nice cheap starter pieces at about $75/each.

What is your budget? What type of photos are you aiming to take with it? On camera or off camera? I would not recommend a 285 for a beginner on camera flash.

Take a look at the Nissin Di622. It gives you E-TTL II and optical slave at a nice price. http://www.nissin-japan.com/en/Di622/ind​ex2.html

Hvstar has it for $99.90. http://hvstar.net …ction=VIEWPROD&​ProdID=786

What are you trying to do that you are not able to do with the built-in flash? Do you need more range (higher guide number)? Do you want tilt/swivel so you can bounce? Do you want to get the flash off the camera? Do you want to use eTTL or set the exposure manually?

If you have some idea what you want to do, then you will get more helpful recommendations.

Check out ebay for a whole bunch of cheaper Canon ETTL compatible flashes: http://photography.sho​p.ebay.ca …ec0Q2em14QQ_sop​Z15QQ_scZ1

in my case, my Canon 40D's internal flash I am not happy with. It is 'in your face' and either washes faces off or does not reach them. I bought Fong's diffuser but it does not help it; while the same Fong diffuser does magic on my Nikon's D40. I would like to be able to bounce a flash off the ceiling or walls. I cannot afford to pay over $200 for 430EX. I am looking for something under/around $100 - is there anything decent out there?

I have been very happy with the Nissin Di622. Check the links in post 4 above.

spur wrote in post #7430812
I have been very happy with the Nissin Di622. Check the links in post 4 above.

+1.

I am newbie in DSLR so take it for what it is worth.

I purchased a Nissin Di622 on eBay. Sent from Hong Kong to here in about 8 business days. I have been using for the last 2+ weeks for indoor shots. Nissin is pretty easy to use as ETTL-II is working very well. I am using it as a on camera flash only with a Rebel Xt. Don't know much about remote control and etc.

The build in diffuser and build in 90degree white card work quite well within 3-4ft. Variable bounce and have ~180degree lateral angle. Charge time is about 4sec or so on fresh battery. Shorter if not using full power.

It's not very small so make sure there is sufficient room in the camera bag.

Don't know much about reliability yet.

For $130 USD. Excellent product. Local camera shop had it for $170 + tax. I think it's a good saving compares to 430ex II.

spur wrote in post #7430812
I have been very happy with the Nissin Di622. Check the links in post 4 above.

I was looking at the Nissin as well before I got my 430ex. This review might be helpful. To chime in though, the 430ex is a great, really well built flash unit.

I still enjoy shooting with my old SunPak 544. A very powerful flash, both in reach and adjustability. Mine is 20+ years old and I never hesitate to use it even for paying gigs. They can be had on eBay for <$100. You will want to make sure it comes with the manual. Though the controls are clear, they will need explanation.

Digital Concepts Pro E-TTL flash. I own one and it's the perfect flash unit. Power zoom, plenty of settings, built in bounce card and diffuser. Pivoting and rotating head. Looks like they covered up the name on the front, but this is the one, and it works beautifully...


DC Pro E-TTL

I've used it on-camera, off-camera, with wireless triggers, as a slave, etc., and it has always worked perfectly.

A very inexpensive (usually free) but very ghetto solution that uses the popup is to cut a bit of cardboard and coat it with tinfoil to reflect the flash into the ceiling or a wall. I actually used this for macro for quite a while, the popup is a bit wimpy for any other purposes although it will do it at fairly wide apertures and iso 1600 even off a normal ceiling. If you're willing to live with the cheapskate impression it leaves it might be worth a go given the $0 cost and will teach you a bit about how to use bounce flash.

Got the idea from here: http://www.prime-junta.net …/a_Bounce_the_P​op-up.html (skip the first 2 pages that's basically a $0 version of the Fong diffuser and I found the results were almost no better than unmodified flash)

But it really depends on what you want to do with it.

katodog wrote in post #7726566
Digital Concepts Pro E-TTL flash. I own one and it's the perfect flash unit. Power zoom, plenty of settings, built in bounce card and diffuser. Pivoting and rotating head. Looks like they covered up the name on the front, but this is the one, and it works beautifully...

DC Pro E-TTL


I've used it on-camera, off-camera, with wireless triggers, as a slave, etc., and it has always worked perfectly.

This seems like a very good, fully featured flash for the money.

This flash is (or was) also marketed under many other names.

Opteka EF-600 DG
Sakar 952AF/CAN
Vivitar DF400MZ
Soligor DG-420 Z

BOWER SFD926C

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Wow, never realized so many companies were slapping their names on the flash. I have the Digital Concepts flash, but if the others are the same unit, they're all going to be great. So far I've been more than happy with mine. I will probably get another one or two in the future. I'm using this one and a Canon 550EX, which is nice but big, and I like the features of the DC flash more.

I'd say if there can be one found for $100 or around there, you've got the flash question answered. I think I paid around $140 for mine.